Lawsuit Accuses Teacher Of Lying

A lawsuit against a Chicago public school teacher who allegedly lied about his teaching experience and criminal background was filed Friday in Cook County Circuit Court.

In the suit, the Chicago Board of Education said Paul J. Bruck, of Chicago, "knowingly and falsely stated that he had never been convicted of a crime."

In 1986, the lawsuit said, an Arizona criminal court found Bruck guilty of theft by misrepresentation. In 1975, Bruck was found guilty of possession of marijuana in Arizona and, in 1974, Bruck was convicted in Minnesota on cocaine charges, the lawsuit said.

The suit also alleges that Bruck "falsely stated" that he taught in Arizona schools when he was actually in prison for most of that time.

In his 1992 application for a teaching position, the lawsuit said Bruck also provided a false name and Social Security number. The lawsuit seeks monetary damages in excess of $700,000, which includes the wages he earned, a civil penalty and a penalty for fraud.

Attached to the complaint was a June 19 letter from the school board that demanded that Bruck pay back his wages or face legal action. Bruck could not be reached for comment late Friday.